George R. Woosley Letter


Typed and Edited by:
Larry and Kathryn Priest
15839 Cedar Bay Drive
Bullard, Texas 75757
(903) 825-7281
Home page of Larry and Kathryn McAda Priest


By Larry W. Priest: The following is the last known letter from George R. Woosley, my Great-Great-Great-Grandfather. He did not return from the Civil War. I am proud to have the original in my possession. I have read it many times, and each time a special feeling of closeness to my ancesters overcomes me. It is the inspiration for my interest in my family background. Any notes in parenthesis are mine.

[The envelope is addressed to:] Mrs. L. E. [Lucy Elizabeth] Woosley, Albany, Ark. [Sutton, Arkansas was called Albany during this time] [return address is] Soldier's Letter G. R. Woosley, Captian Rader's company [ This letter was sent without postage. It was stamped "DUE 10" where the stamp should be. The cancellation is "Pine Bluff, Ark., Aug. 13, 1862"] "Jeferson County Arcansas August the 11, 1862

Dear Wife I imbrace the present opportuniy of righting you a few lines to inform you that I am in tolerable health and I thank god that it is as well with me as it is. When these lines come to hand I hope they may find you and the children well. I receivd your letter this monday morning the 11 of august. I was truly glad to hear that you was all well. I have nothing of interest to right to you. We have left camden ar [Camden, Arkansas] now camped nine miles from Pine bluff and I expect will remain hear for some time. I could hardly make the trip the wether was so warm. I hant slept with any cover on me since I left home and in the open air at that with out a tent. There is about four Thousand Troups hear our fair is beef and bread some malases and little bacon. I think hard times is just commenced. I have no war news to right. We can hear any thing hear. I cear but little about the war if I could be at home. There is three hundred in the hoospittle [hospital]. Ther ant but forty men in our company able for duty out of one hundred and fiften. Nevel Sutton was left on the road with the measles and Garlin Bright with the fever at the same house. Elizabeth I would freely give all I posseese to get out of this war and to see you and the children once more. Camp life don't suit me. We ar not allowed to go a mile from camps without an order from the General. Hear I have many temttations to encounter with. It takes a man with firmness to live in camps a christan life. Elizabeth I study day and night about you and my too sweet children. Tell them to be good children till I come back. I want you to pray for me for my troubles and triels [trials] are many. May god help you to pray for me and yourself and the children and give you grace to bear you up under all your troubles and sorrows. I am still in hopes that I will get off when the ridgment is formed. If I never get back I expect to meet you in the glory land where there will be no more parting husband and wife and friends. Direct your letter to Pine Bluff."

Camp White Sulphur Springs - During the summer of 1862 a training camp and staging area for Confederate troops was located at White Sulpher Springs, a small resort near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Many of the men brought here died never having seen battle, and are buried there near the hospital. G. R. Woosley is one of the men buried there according to the Patrick R. Cleiburn, Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans; James F. Ginett, Rt. 1 Box 515, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603

1. George R.5 Woosley (James4, Elijah3, Thomas2, Richard1) was born Abt. 1832 in Bedford Co., Tennessee1, and died September 1862 in Camp White Sulpher Springs, Arkansas near Pine Bluff2. He married Lucy Elizabeth Albright3,4,5 1849 in Bedford Co., Tennessee, daughter of Jacob Albright and Sarah Nease.

Children of George Woosley and Lucy Albright are:

2 i. James Peyton "Peyton"6 Woosley, born October 08, 1852 in Kentucky6; died November 30, 1914 in Sutton,Nevada Co., Arkansas Buried@ Harmony Cemetery7. He married Martha Jane Hart December 22, 1870 in Sutton, Hempstead Co., Ark..

3 ii. Emaline Caledonia Woosley, born July 1850 in ?Bedford Co., Tennessee8; died Aft. 1910 in ?Wilbarger Co., Texas9. She married James B. "Jimmie" Bright December 24, 1868 in Sutton, Hempstead Co., Arkansas10.


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